The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1918, Page 94

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94. The Lutheran Pioneer.

ter of speculation. They belong to the Polynesian
race, are finely built, though deteriorating now,
and undoubtedly one of the most intelligent of
savage races. This is all the more remarkable since
they were confirmed and unashamed cannibals.
I have been told that there are still living a few
Maoris who years ago ate human flesh.

Mr. James Cowan, in his book -entitled, The
Maoris of New Zealand, writes: “As to the period
when these olden sailor men first sailed into the
Pacific, we have little to guide us with exactitude
but the Polynesian genealogies and _ traditions.
Some of these genealogies, however, are of extraor-
dinary length, and the system of preserving and
handing down the ancestral lists was such a care-
ful one — it was a sacred and priestly duty — that
there is remarkable agreement between the gen-
ealogical tables of various widely severed groups.
Common ancestors are mentioned in identical
sequence.”

Mr. Percy Smith, an eminent student of Poly-
nesian genealogies, estimates that the length of time
the Maori has inhabited the Pacific dates back to
near the beginning of the Christian era. From
ancient traditions and genealogies he deduces that,
shortly before the birth of the Savior, the ancestors
of the Polynesians, starting out from India and
Burmah, worked their way down the Straits of
Malacca, and then occupied the East Indian Islands.
Some centuries later, “about 450 A.D., perhaps
earlier,” they took possession of, and settled on,
Fiji and Samoa. From this time on the movements
of these adventurous wanderers can be more ac-
-curately traced. They next discovered and settled,
about 650 A.D., in the Hawaii Islands, and seem
to have made Samoa their great headquarters, and
probably about that time these Pacific explorers
first visited New Zealand. ‘Tahiti, the Marquesas
and Paumotu Archipelago had already been occu-
pied. ‘Then taking advantage of the southeast
trade-winds, they launched out into the unknown,
until all the islands east of Australia had been
visited and settled. AnrrHur Arperr.

& (To be continued.)

TsrouGH less than one-half of one per cent. of
the Japanese people is Christian, taking the nation
as a whole, the Christian members of Parliament
form more than three and a half per cent. of that
body. Christian character counts when it comes
4o patriotic service.

BOOK TABLE.

Comprehensive Bible History. Concordia Publishing
House, St. Louis, Mo. Full cloth binding; 276 pages.
Price, 80 cts., postpaid. Special introduction prices.

This new Bible History is going to be a source of joy
to many a teacher, and for good reasons, since you would
have to go far to find its equal from every point of view.

The text is that of the Authorized Version. All proper

names are diacritically marked, which will be a great help

to the pupil in the way of pronouncing these names cor-
rectly. The paragraphing of the histories will assist the
scholar greatly in learning his lesson. A number of ex-
planatory notes at the ends of the lessons will prove of

great value. Practically every history is followed by a

Bible-passage or a quotation in verse, which have the pur-

pose of succinctly stating the main truth of the lesson.

The book contains a great number of illustrations and

not a few very usable maps. Pastors and teachers should

not neglect to order a copy at once.

Kirchengesangbuch fuer Ev.-Luth. Gemeinden Ungeaen-
derter Augsburgischer Konfession. Concordia Pub-
lishing House, St. Louis, Mo. Cloth; pocket edition
(TCA). Price, 75 cts.

This is the pocket edition of the new and revised Ger-
man hymnal of the Missouri Synod. This new edition
contains forty-two more hymns than the old edition did.
The new orthography is used. The publishers are putting
out six other bindings of this edition of the hymnal, the
pace ranging from $2.00 to $3.50. The more expensive
eather bindings may not be on the market for a long time,
since the leather supply is very limited.

The Modern Grammar. By Albert H. Miller, Instruc-
tor in English in River Forest Teachers’ College,
River Forest, Ill. Concordia Publishing House, St.
Louis, Mo. Full cloth binding; 221 pages. Price,
60 cts., postpaid. %

Here is an excellent schoolbook, one that we may be

proud of. I think the publishers should call the atten-—>*

tion of public school authorities to this text-book. This
Grammar carries nothing superfluous, it presents all sub-
ject-matter in the simplest of language, its definitions are
clear and concise, and interestingly and copiously illus-
trated with sentences referring to facts that the pupils
are familiar with from their daily studies and experience.
A particularly noteworthy feature are the numerous dia-
grams in the book. The form of diagram used by the
author presents the construction of the sentences most
simply and graphically to the eye of the learner. The
author plainly shows that he is a consistent believer in
the old dictum that repetition is the mother of wisdom,
as the numerous reviews show. In short, we know of no
sound pedagogical principle that the author of this Modern
Grammar has ignored. The consequent result of his labors
is a book that will rank with the best on the market.

Lutheran Annual 1919.— Amerikanischer Kalender
fuer deutsche Lutheraner. Concordia Publishing
House, St. Louis, Mo. Price, 15 cts. each.

We are certain that the mere announcement of the
fact that these two annuals are on the market will be
sufficient, and therefore we shall let this be enough, ex-
cept that we desire to call the attention to the fact that
because of the high cost of material and labor the price
of the annuals has been advanced to 15 cents.

The Christian Home. By John H.C. Fritz. Concordia
Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo. 20 pages; paper.
Price, 5 cts.

A tract that deserves the widest possible circulation.
What Pastor Fritz says on marriage, the relationship of
husband and wife, and on children, is worthy of deepest
thought. Among other things we would particularly call
attention to the author’s expressions on childless mar-
riages and small families, infanticide, on children as a
precious gift of God, and the proper rearing-of children.

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